Abstract: A ranging device includes: a pulse generator; a controller that controls the pulse generator according to n (n is an integer greater than or equal to 4) types of packet generation codes indicating whether or not to expose or emit light in each of unit segments corresponding to distance segments into which a ranging range is divided; a light source; a solid-state image capturer; and a distance calculator that calculates the distance based on n types of signal values per unit segment obtained from the solid-state image capturer.

Abstract: In an audio output system including a TV, an AV amplifier, a DVD player, and the like, a simple control program decides an audio output mode setting, i.e., whether to output audio from a built-in speaker of the TV or output audio from an external speaker connected to the AV amplifier by linking operations of the respective devices. A control unit of a DVD player transmits a request signal concerning the audio output mode to a control unit of a TV. According to a request from the DVD player, the control unit of the TV instructs a control unit of an AV amplifier to be set to a mode for outputting audio from an external speaker connected to the AV amplifier or a mode for not outputting audio and sets a built-in speaker of the TV to a state opposite to the state of the external speaker.

Abstract: In an audio output system including a TV, an AV amplifier, a DVD player, and the like, a simple control program decides an audio output mode setting, i.e., whether to output audio from a built-in speaker of the TV or output audio from an external speaker connected to the AV amplifier by linking operations of the respective devices. A control unit (403) of a DVD player (400) transmits a request signal concerning the audio output mode to a control unit (105) of a TV (100). According to a request from the DVD player (400), the control unit (105) of the TV (100) instructs a control unit (203) of an AV amplifier (200) to be set to a mode for outputting audio from an external speaker (300) connected to the AV amplifier (200) or a mode for not outputting audio and sets a built-in speaker (110) of the TV (100) to a state opposite to the state of the external speaker.

Abstract: In a content recording apparatus, attribute information of first content which is to be recorded to a recording medium is compared with attribute information of second content which has been recorded on the recording medium. As a result of the comparison, if ID information of the first content differs from ID information of the second content, the first content is recorded to the recording medium. If the ID information of the first content is same as the ID information of the second content and the first content has a higher quality than the second content, the first content is recorded to the recording medium to replace the second content. If the ID information of the first content is same as the ID information of the second content and the first content has no higher quality than the second content, the first content is not recorded to the recording medium.